Btth: Xiao yan with killing system

The days passed in a blur as Xiao Yan and Su Mei traveled deeper into the Black-Corner Region. The landscape grew more treacherous, filled with jagged rocks and thick forests that seemed to close in around them. The air was thick with danger, but Xiao Yan barely noticed anymore. His mind was fixed solely on the next challenge, the next target. His obsession with power had consumed him, and the man he once was felt like a distant memory.

Su Mei, however, couldn't shake the growing unease in her heart. Xiao Yan had changed. His eyes, once filled with fire and determination, now held an empty coldness. The bond they had shared seemed to be eroding with each battle. She had seen the system's influence on him, watched as he pushed himself further and further, without regard for the cost.

"We're almost there," she said quietly one evening as they camped by a bubbling stream. The stars above were barely visible through the thick canopy, but her voice felt like a small beacon of warmth. "Tian Hao's fortress isn't far. Are you ready for what's to come?"

Xiao Yan didn't respond immediately. He sat near the fire, the flames reflecting in his eyes as he stared into the distance. The system had provided him with a new skill after every victory, and his power had skyrocketed. Yet, despite all the strength at his disposal, something still felt hollow. The system promised more, but Xiao Yan was beginning to feel like he was paying a price he couldn't fully understand.

> "Next target: Tian Hao, 9-Star Dou Zong. Success Probability: 60%."

The system's message broke his train of thought, and a cold smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He stood up, his expression hard.

"Let's go," he said, his voice emotionless. "We're done here."

Su Mei watched him as he turned away, her heart sinking. The Xiao Yan she had known was slipping through her fingers, replaced by someone who only cared about the next fight. She had tried everything she could to reach him, but it felt like her words no longer mattered.

Tian Hao's fortress stood tall in the distance, an ominous silhouette against the blood-red sky. Xiao Yan could feel the pressure in the air, the promise of another battle, another opportunity to climb higher. But as they approached, something inside him flickered—a tiny, almost imperceptible hesitation.

Was this truly the path he wanted?

But before he could dwell on it, the gates of Tian Hao's fortress opened, and his path forward was clear. The final challenge was waiting.

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